08-09-06

Characters involved: Flaxpaw, Harper, & Jarril.

Salamandastron: Niche

A soft voice can be heard in the passage leaving the mountain, though the doe whose voice it is would be inaudible to any but her companion. Just idle pre-trip chattering. The two emerge into the evening, paws twined as they aleways are, Flax' eyes fixed on Harp's face with a slightly adoring smile on her muzzle.

Pre-trip chattering is really the best, isn't it? Harp's eyes are also focused on Flaxpaw's and a warm smile is fixed on his muzzle. He laughs at something she says, dipping his head in a nod of apparent agreement. He's got a full pack slung over his back, as well as a bow, unstrung, and a quiver of arrows. He's ready for anything, mm-hm.

Jarril coming up from behind, Jarril has been cleaned from his earlier patrol within the swamps, with both paws behind his back he nods as he calls out. "Hmmm, trying ta sneak away while no one is looking eh? Ya know I could put ya both in the cells, wot." The hare chuckles with a wink. "Ah, Flax, stealing my son from me, hmmm, that requires double time in the cells, wot."

Flaxpaw grins, and offers a casual saluty thing to Jar, leaning a little possesively against Harp. "not stealin, sah, just keepin him for you. Though, I'm sure the cells're more comfortable than some places we'll be stayin, aren't they, love?" The last, obviously, directed to Harp.

Harper's attention is /finally/ drawn from Flaxpaw at Jarril's call. He looks around in surprise, then breaks out in another grin when he sees Jarril. His arm goes around the doe, paw resting on her opposite hip. Snug. "... We'll probably regret not taking him up on the offer, 'fore long. Yeah."

Jarril hmms. "Aye, well. Ya ta look after him Flax, remember that." He looks at Harper and nods his head. "Come here, I've something ta give ya."

Flaxpaw doesn't seem so eager to let go of Harp, her arm having looped his waist when his went around her. "I will" pause "Jarril, sah."

Eager or not, Harper gives her a small grin and gently removes himself from their embrace with a murmured, "Hold my spot." He starts forward to meet Jarril, setting his pack down as he nears. He dips his head in a firm nod of... greeting? Acknowledgement? Whatever. He looks happy.

Jarril looks at Flaxpaw and speaks. "I won't keep him long, this is the last time I see him for a while, so ya can spare him for a few minutes." Turning back to face Harper again the hare nods his head back. "Son, I've only known ya for a season or two now but ya moving on and that's fine. However it's my duty as a father ta ensure that ya well protected." He moves his paws from behind his back and in each one are two short swords. "These are for ya, I've been up most of the time since we last spoke a few days ago. I made them, another hare carved the family emblem into the blade." Holding them out he smiles. "These are for you." The blades shining in the sun and showing off the family symbol of a northern mountain hare running on each blade, near to the hilt and before the blood vein starts.

Flaxpaw just watches for now, her eyes widening a little at the blades being presented to Harp, though a tad bit of the old attitude from the abbey is showing through as she looks on.

As Jarril begins to speak, Harper's ears perk forward attentively. However, as he continues to speak, his lips part in silent surprise and his ears dip back. His eyes turn to the blades and his jaw snaps shut. He shakes his head slowly, unsure what to say... Rather than say anything, he reaches out to take the blades by the hilt, gently taking them from Jarril. He turns them this way and that, looking awe struck. Finally he speaks. "... I don't know what to say." His lips twitch in a faint smile. "They're the most beautiful blades I've ever seen." He looks up, the smile breaking out wide. "Jarril... thanks." He looks back down, shaking his head. His lips form the word 'wow', silently.

Jarril smiles as he speaks. "I know you're heading for a life of peace and I still admire that. But sometimes ya may be needed ta protect, Flaxpaw here or the abbey. I know ya have it in ya ta use those blades wisely and not ta tarnish our family name. Ya can think me by living a good life, both of ya." Looking at Flaxpaw with a smile. "Good luck ta the both of ya." The older hare moves forwards and gives Harper a final farewell hug, speaking quietly. "I'll see ya soon. Take care." He pats the younger bucks back.

Awr. Harper wraps his own arms around Jarril, the blades held out and away from the older buck. "I'll miss you, Jar. Thank you... fer /everything/." He tightens the hug briefly following these murmured words, then steps back, swiping the back of a paw across his cheek. He glances back to Flaxpaw, his smile wavery.

Jarril smiles and nods. "Right, time for ya both ta head off. Before I change my mind on the whole business."

Flaxpaw looks between the two bucks, her expression clearing slightly at Jarril's words to Harp, then returns Harp's look with a grin. She hesitates only briefly, then goes foreward to stand next to them, waiting until they finish their hug. She steps up to Jarril a little hesitantly. "You'll not wait long to visit us, will you, sah? You'll always be welcome, you know. You're family." yeah, that was awkward. She makes a motion as though to hug him, adding "sorry for the trouble I caused you." in a slight undertone. more awkwardness with the future father-in-law. woot!

Jarril gives Flaxpaw a hug. "Ah, don't worry about it, just no more getting ta friendly with vermin, ya hear." He pulls away and straighten's his uniform.

Harper looks from Flaxpaw to Jarril, a mixture of happy and sadness lingering in his gaze. When Jarril pulls away from Flaxpaw, he comes up to stand beside her, smiling faintly to the older buck. He seems at a loss for anything else to say, having deposited the short swords in a make-shift sheath at his waist.

Jarril nods his head. "Well, ya both get off, write ta me from time ta time okay?" He smiles, nods his head and then turns to head back into the mountain, the hare deciding to watch from the crator instead.

Flaxpaw nods to Jarril, then goes to take Harp's paw in hers, smiling up at him, then returning her gaze to Jarril as she watches him go. "Best go, just like he says." She kinda bumps against him playfully.